Bobcats Making Headlines

These students in a family living class at Marshalltown High School purchased presents for a family in need through the adopt a family effort at the House of Compassion.

Marshalltown High School teacher Alexa Hotopp said she was proud of the students in her family living class during a project this week.

Alexa Hotopp

The class, which was learning about financial literacy and difficulties families in need go through with finances, adopted a family in need through the House of Compassion. The class purchased gifts for the family and then wrapped the gifts in class.

“I have absolutely been blown away by the generosity my students have shown and the amount they were willing to give to this family in need,” Hotopp said. “We were able to fulfill the family’s entire list and more.”

Hotopp said the project brought joy to the class as they learned about giving.

Several members of the Marshalltown High School boys swimming team are pictured at a recent practice. Team members raised $577.40 to donate to the Emergency Food Bank as part of the annual Change for Charity effort.

For athletes who don’t usually have pockets, the Marshalltown High School boys swimming team sure was able to come up with a lot of change.

The 8^th annual Change for Charity effort held by team members raised $577.40 for the Emergency Food Box.

“This is a record for us,” head swim coach Mike Loupee said of the total. “It’s phenomenal.”

Students collect change and some even keep change throughout the year to donate to this effort. Loupee said he was happy with the participation from all of the team members for the cause.

“They all did a fantastic job of getting involved,” Loupee said.

The Emergency Food Box provides food for the less fortunate in the area.

De’Quan McDowell, a student athlete on the football team at the University of Oregon, speaks to students at Rogers Elementary School on December 21. McDowell is a 2013 Marshalltown High School graduate and attended Rogers Elementary. At left is De’Quan’s brother, Romell Washington.

De’Quan McDowell returned to Rogers Elementary School quite a bit bigger than he was when he went through the school as an elementary student.

McDowell, a 2013 Marshalltown High School graduate and student athlete on the football team at the University of Oregon, stopped by Rogers on December 21 to interact with the students during a special assembly.

McDowell is now a senior who earned a scholarship this past year playing linebacker and special teams for the Oregon Ducks. He told the Rogers students the importance of their education and being respectful to people.

“Treat everybody like you want to be treated,” McDowell said.

He also answered several questions from the Rogers students. Rogers Principal Mick Jurgensen told the students that McDowell is proof that they can also be successful in life. De’Quan has a brother and cousins that currently attend Rogers.

McDowell is studying business and economics at Oregon and hopes to be a business owner in the future.

Marshalltown High School senior Isabella Pedersen won the school’s Poetry Out Loud contest on December 21 and will compete at the state competition on March 5 in Des Moines.

Marshalltown High School senior Isabella Pedersen is heading to the state Poetry Out Loud contest after winning the MHS competition on December 21 in the MHS/Community Auditorium.

Six MHS students competed in the event, which has them recite two poems that test them on memorization and recitation.

Isabella recited “An Apology For Her Poetry” by Duchess of Newcastle Margaret Cavendish and “Through a Glass Eye, Lightly” by Carolyn Kizer.

Students are judged on the following criteria: physical presence, voice and articulation, appropriateness of dramatization, level of complexity of the poem they read, evidence of understanding, accuracy and overall performance.

Tying for second place were Michelle Ankrum and Luke Pedersen while Hadley Wagner placed third. The three judges applauded all six competitors for their performance.

“You really entertained us today,” said judge Gary Zmolek.

The state contest will be held on March 5 in Des Moines.

The top finishers in the Marshalltown High School Poetry Out Loud contest on December 21 are pictured, from left, Hadley Wager (third place), Luke Pedersen (tied for second place), Isabella Pedersen (first place) and Michelle Ankrum (tied for second place). 

Lenihan Intermediate School students, from left, Nataile Davis, Brayden Sinn and Morgan Bryan are pictured next to their poster on Brazil. Students presented on South American countries during a special fair at the school on December 21.

Weeks of research went into the South American Fair held in the Robinson’s Pride Parkway neighborhood at Lenihan Intermediate School on December 21.

District staff and community members judged the fair, which had sixth grade students talk about what they learned on a specific South American country.

As part of the project, students researched a country, wrote up a book on their research and put together posters for their presentation.

“They are becoming experts on their country,” said Lenihan teacher Lisa Niehouse.

Five personnel from the Marshalltown Police Department visited Lenihan Intermediate School on December 20 as part of career chat. Pictured from the MPD, from left, Officer Casee Veren, Officer Dawn Blahnik, Captain Chris Jones, Lieutenant Rick Bellile and Chief Mike Tupper.

Five members of the Marshalltown Police Department visited Lenihan Intermediate School on December 20 as part of the monthly career chat hosted by Extended Learning Program teacher Vanessa Engel.

The event featured Officer Casee Veren, Officer Dawn Blahnik, Captain Chris Jones, Lieutenant Rick Bellile and Chief Mike Tupper.

A wide range of topics were discussed including what officers wear on the job, what happens when someone calls “911,” why they wanted to pursue a career in law enforcement, body cameras and more.

One main piece of advice from the MPD personnel to the students was to stay in school and be a lifelong learner.

“I am constantly learning even though I’ve been there for 21 years,” Jones said.

Tupper said: “I learn something new every day.”

All said they got into the field because of their desire to help others and make a difference in their community.

Miller Middle School students Laura Arneson, left, and Mary Kate Gruening presented on December 20 as part of an English class project focused on how holidays are celebrated around the world.

Miller Middle School students honed their presentation skills and learned about how holidays are celebrated around the world as part of a project in English classes taught by Lindsey Roberts this week.

Parents, other Miller students and staff were invited to the presentations, which spanned three days. The presentations highlighted how different areas of the world celebrate the holidays, such as customs and traditional food.

Roberts said this is part of Project Based Learning at Miller, where they seek a wider audience than just the teacher.

“Part of Project Based Learning is sharing with a ‘real world audience’ instead of the work just staying in the classroom where only the teacher will see the finished project,” Roberts said.

Miller Middle School students who delivered cards to The Embers retirement community on December 16 are pictured. From left, Sarah Mbiya, Myriam Rodriguez Macias, Ruth Tha, Paw Eh Htoo, Ba Blut and teacher Shawna Hutchison.

Students in a newcomer English Language Learners class at Miller Middle School learned  how to spread holiday cheer on December 16.

The students, along with their teacher Shawna Hutchison, delivered more than 100 holiday cards they made to residents and staff at The Embers retirement community in Marshalltown.

“The students decided to do this project to spread joy to others in the community,” Hutchison said. “Many of the residents expressed gratitude and even have them displayed outside their doors.”

The Marshalltown High School orchestra performs during the district orchestra concert at the MHS/Community Auditorium on December 15. 

Four orchestras from the Marshalltown Community School District performed on December 15 as part of the district orchestra concert at the Marshalltown High School/Community Auditorium.

Maggie Williams

Led by District Orchestra Director Maggie Williams, the event included performances by the Lenihan fifth grade, Lenihan sixth grade, Miller Middle School and MHS orchestras.

Williams was proud of the students and excited for the attendance at the concert.

“Every group did a great job, and the audience was numerous and supportive,” Williams said.

Miller orchestra (7th and 8th grades)

Lenihan 6th grade orchestra

Lenihan 5th grade orchestra

Marshalltown High School student Peyton Smith performs a magic trick for Woodbury Elementary School students on December 15. Also pictured is fellow magician and MHS student Daytona Sorlaesith (center).

Two Marshalltown High School students are delivering a magic show with a message to Extended Learning Program classes in the elementary schools this week.

Peyton Smith and Daytona Sorlaesith have been putting on brief magic shows featuring card and coin tricks for the students. Before they leave each school, the magicians tell the students to continue to apply themselves and practice if they want to excel at something. They told the students how they themselves practice magic to be good at it.

The show was well received by the elementary students.

“They loved it,” said Nicole Holman, XLP teacher at Woodbury Elementary School after the show to her students on December 15.

The magicians with students at Woodbury Elementary School.

Peyton Smith and Daytona Sorlaesith